Ref.: TAKO-2036
French light tank AMX-13/75 The AMX-13 is a French light tank produced from 1953 to 1985. It served with the French Army, as the Char 13t-75 Modèle 51, and was exported to more than 25 other nations. Named after its initial weight of 13 tonnes, and featuring a tough and reliable chassis, it was fitted with an oscillating turret built by GIAT Industries (now Nexter) with revolver type magazines, which were also used on the Austrian SK-105 Kürassier. Including prototypes and export versions, there are over a hundred variants including self-propelled guns, anti-aircraft systems, APCs, and ATGM versions. Total production of the AMX-13 family is approximately 7,700 units, around 3,400 of which were exported. The tank was designed at the Atelier de Construction d’Issy-les-Moulineaux (AMX) in 1946 to meet a requirement for an air-portable vehicle to support paratroopers. The first prototype ran from 1948. The compact chassis had torsion bar suspension with five road-wheels and two return rollers; the engine runs the length of the tank on the right side, with the driver on the left. It features an uncommon two-part oscillating turret, where the gun is fixed to the turret and the entire upper turret changes elevation. The turret is set to the rear of the vehicle and holds the commander and gunner. The original 75 mm gun was loaded by an automatic loading system fed by two six-round magazines located in on either side of the automatic loader in the turret’s bustle. The 12 rounds available in the drum magazines meant that the crew could engage targets quickly; however, once those rounds were expended, the vehicle had to retreat to cover and the crew had to reload shells from outside the vehicle. Production began at ARE (Atelier de Construction Roanne) in 1952, with the first tanks delivered the following year. In 1964, production was transferred to Creusot-Loire at Chalon-sur-Saône, as ARE switched to the production of the AMX 30 MBT, and the numbers produced declined significantly. From 1966, the 75mm high-velocity gun was replaced by a 90 mm (the AMX-13/90) medium velocity gun firing more effective HEAT ammunition, with the French upgrading all existing base models to this specification. By the early 1970s, export models were available with an even more potent 105 mm gun. Although there were many variants on the turret, the basic chassis was almost unchanged until 1985, when changes including a new diesel engine, fully automatic transmission and new hydropneumatic suspension were introduced. Production halted with the Model 1987. After sales support and upgrades are still offered through GIAT Industries (now Nexter). The AMX-13 tank was phased out of service with the French Army in the 1980s. Current French armoured vehicles with a similar role are the ERC 90 Sagaie and the AMX 10 RC. AMX13 was Israel’s first modern tank, purchased at a time only France was willing to openly sell arms to Israel. By 1956 Israel had received 180 AMX-13 light tanks, as part of an agreement to reinforce Israel and maintain the balance after the Egyptian-Czechoslovak arms agreement. Due to the lack of tanks the IDF used them as main battle tanks, equipping a tank battalion in the 7th Armored Brigade. Reconnaissance units did not use AMX13s and remained exclusively equipped with jeeps. The 7th Armored Brigade advanced into the Sinai and its reconnaissance company played a decisive role on 30 October 1956 at Abu Ageila pass, in the central Sinai sector. The company managed to maneuver and discover that Pass was held only by a small force of Egyptian engineers who fled when the Israelis arrived. The company secured the pass, allowing the 7th Armored brigade to pass through and surround the Egyptians. By 1967 Israel had acquired about 400 AMX-13s and three AMX-13 battalions fought actively on all fronts.